When someone fails to pay a credit card debt for several months, the line of credit is reduced and the account will often be closed. The creditor may transfer the debt to a professional collection company, either on a temporary or permanent basis. At some point, the creditor or the collector may decide to sue to collect on the debt. While all of this time is elapsing, the interest accrues and late fees are added on month after month. And every month you pay nothing, your credit score goes down down down. If the creditor can sue, most of the time they will win because you fail to respond to the court properly. Maybe the reason is because you moved without letting the creditor know your new address or maybe one of the kids refused to answer the door when the plainclothes process server stopped by. Should the creditor obtain a court judgment, it will be for a lot more than $11,000 because the judgment will include the accrued interest, late charges, court costs and attorney fees. The creditor will be able to garnish your wages, attach your bank account and make survival very difficult. Bankruptcy could become your only solution to this problem.

You won't be arrested for not paying your credit card. This is not medieval England, and there are no debtors' prisons. The credit card company does have means to collect the debt you owe them, however. It can get a judgment in local court, then start garnishing wages, levying bank accounts, and possibly putting a lien on your home. The way to avoid this is to file bankruptcy, which will bar the creditor from ever collecting on this account. You may want to speak with a local attorney to find out if this is a viable option for you in your situation.

No they can't arrest you unless you ignore an order to appear in court. Just because you don't pay no one can come and arrest you. It sounds like you are "judgment proof" and you might want to go see a knowledgeable local debt defense attorney to explain your rights to you. Most will provide a briefing at no cost and can help put your mind at ease.

No. We have not had debtors' prisons for a couple hundred years. If you are not working, there are no wages to garnish. If you own no real estate, they can not put a lien on real estate you do not own. You may be "judgment proof".

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